The First Travellers

The first tourists to find their way here were not just anyone. They were British lords and ladies – men and women with enough time and money to embark on long, demanding journeys to the wildest corners of Europe. They arrived by steamship to the end of the lake, and from there continued by horse and carriage, and finally on foot. And it is said – though no one can confirm it with any certainty – that ice from the glacier was harvested and shipped to London, where it was used in cocktails at the city's most exclusive clubs. Ice from the ends of the earth, in the glasses of the British upper class. In 1890, a small road was built from the end of the lake toward the glacier, and with that, Olden suddenly became accessible to more visitors. Until 1965, the lake remained the main route out of the valley – a motorboat had made daily runs since 1915. When the road through the valley was finally completed, everything changed. After the First World War, the farmers began to receive guests. They sold food and lodging and drove visitors around the valley. It is that tradition that Stromma's red double-deckers are part of today. Some things change. The spirit of discovery remains the same.